The Cardboard Kingdom

While The Cardboard Kingdom focuses primarily on how the children use imaginative play to learn, grow, and connect with others, it also emphasizes the importance of parental and guardian support. Many of the chapters provide a window into the different home lives the children have, and in every single case, it is clear that parental support—or the lack thereof—impacts them outside of the home as well.

The three most prominent examples of parents or guardians providing unequivocal support come from Connie’s dad, Jack’s mom, and Roy’s Nanna. In each case, the child in question is dealing with a challenge that is difficult to process or solve alone. For example, Connie spends all her time pretending to be an unfeeling robot so that she doesn’t have to confront the challenges that come from childhood emotions, while Jack must navigate his growing understanding that he is different than most of the other children. While the narrative never specifies exactly what Jack feels, it is implied that he is growing aware of his own unique LGTBQ+ identity. Likewise, Roy is struggling with fitting in and dealing with the difficult transition between childhood and adolescence. For each of these characters, an adult steps in at an important moment to provide them with guidance, reassurance, and support. Connie’s dad never forces her to change, but he gives her a gentle push to make friends because he knows that she needs it. Similarly, Jack’s mom reassures him that she loves him no matter what, but she never foists any labels or identities on him. Finally, Roy’s Nanna is a constant source of positivity and support and recognizes that Roy needs to feel a sense of responsibility and control. She understands that he wants to feel like he is growing up, especially since he has little control over his living situation. The impact of these moments is evident in each story; Connie takes a risk and invites everyone to her birthday party, while Jack stops feeling so isolated and realizes that he can be “evil” but still have friends. Likewise, Roy eventually figures out how to integrate himself with the children his age.

The Cardboard Kingdom also demonstrates the negative impact that a lack of support or an unstable homelife can have on a child’s psyche. This dynamic first appears when the outgoing, happy, and energetic Sophie is left with her overly conservative Meemaw and transforms into a shell of herself, even avoiding her friends altogether. Amanda undergoes a similar experience when she realizes that her father disapproves of her scientist costume. Like Sophie, she retreats into herself, and her initial joy is replaced by total dejection. Luckily, these instances are not permanent. Sophie’s mom returns from her trip and reassures her daughter that Meemaw is wrong for trying to change her, and Amanda’s father realizes that his disapproval stems from his own prejudicial enculturation, prompting him to apologize and offer the support that his daughter needs.

Significantly, the novel does not shy away from depicting less-than-ideal conclusions, for Seth is drastically impacted by the weight of his parents’ separation. Initially, the turmoil in his household keeps him from sleeping because he worries that his aggressive dad could show up at any moment, and he feels that it is his responsibility to protect his mom. As the lack of sleep and the tension in the house sap Seth of his characteristic energy and vibrance, his story best illustrates the importance of a stable and supportive home life, as the lack of it so clearly impacts Seth’s life outside the home as well. Additionally, he never finds a long-term solution for his family’s troubles, and the bitter conclusion of his chapter implies that some problems are beyond a child’s ability to solve.